Cover
19th century - 20th century (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Bedcover made up of four lengths seamed together vertically. On a blue/black plain weave cotton ground are embroidered diamond motifs in bright coloured silks and wrapped gold-coloured metallic thread. Each of the four lengths has a different variation of the diamond design and so it does not match across the seams. The counted threadwork almost entirely covers the ground.
The cover was made by one of China's national minority peoples, probably one from the south of west of China.
The cover was made by one of China's national minority peoples, probably one from the south of west of China.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Hand spun and woven indigo-dyed cotton embroidered with coloured silk and gilt thread |
| Brief description | Cover, hand spun and woven indigo-dyed cotton patternrd with coloured silk and gilt thread, possibly Yunnan province, China, 19th-20th century |
| Physical description | Bedcover made up of four lengths seamed together vertically. On a blue/black plain weave cotton ground are embroidered diamond motifs in bright coloured silks and wrapped gold-coloured metallic thread. Each of the four lengths has a different variation of the diamond design and so it does not match across the seams. The counted threadwork almost entirely covers the ground. The cover was made by one of China's national minority peoples, probably one from the south of west of China. |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions |
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| Gallery label | Keys, hooks, diamonds and lozenges combine with a small swastika lattice pattern to make a design in different colourways. The Buddhist swastika symbol, evoking prosperity and good luck, is used extensively in China. Like the red cotton cover, this may not have been used as such and it may also come from the Dai minority area. The Dai are a rice-growing people, related to Thais, and they are Buddhists. We know that Sir John Addis purchased these two cotton covers in Beijing. They both have a shop mark from the capital on them. It would have been impossible to travel to the Dai minority region when Sir John lived in China and it is still a fairly inaccessible area today. It is likely that Sir John recognised this piece for what it was because he had been Ambassador to Laos from 1960-62. |
| Credit line | Addis Bequest |
| Object history | Registered File number 1965/3344. |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | FE.120-1983 |
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| Record created | February 12, 2000 |
| Record URL |
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